Petition calls for Rotherham council staff to be prosecuted over child sex abuse scandal

Rotherham

Polly Rippon

Angry campaigners have set up a petition calling for Rotherham council staff who covered up the child sexual exploitation scandal to be prosecuted.

The petition is addressed to South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Billings and Home Secretary Teresa May.

It comes following publication of Louise Casey’s report which found the council ‘not fit for purpose’ and ‘in denial’ about the extent of child sex abuse taking place in the town and tried to cover up the scandal.

It states: “The Professor Jay report and the recent inquiry into widespread child sexual abuse and the failings of Rotherham Council has resulted in the mass resignation of the cabinet in Rotherham.

“Now we need justice.

“The people responsible for lack of action which has allowed thousands of girls in Rotherham to be groomed and raped cannot simply resign and escape.

“Shaun Wright, Jahangir Akhtar and others including Martin Kimber, Roger Stone and Joyce Thacker must be properly investigated and prosecuted if found guilty of offences.

“This needs to happen urgently so that survivors see justice.”

The petition has been started by a ‘radical feminist’ campaigner who uses the pseudonym Jean Hatchet.

She also set up petitions calling for rapist footballer Ched Evans to be banned from returning to Sheffield United and Oldham.